Ok, so I finally watched it

Last night I settled down on the sofa (it was my day off I hasten to add) and watched "Avatar". Technically brilliant, remarkably envisaged, and the storyline good, though it did ring bells with "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee", albeit with a different outcome. Maybe what I enjoyed most were the visuals. Clearly filmed with 3D in mind, with lots of depth to each shot, the imagining of Pandora and its flora and fauna was stunning. Floating islands are not new - I recall them from the cover of a Pan Sci-fi paperback from the 60's - but to actually get amongst them and see detail was excellent. I've purposely waited for the media hype to die down, but IMHO it deserves all its accolades.

Monday morning ...

... and a Health & Safety inspection at one of the churches. Wonder if she'll notice the plaster falling off?

Midday Update:
Inspected and no problems. Couple of minor things to do, like make sure the First Aid kit and Accident book are in a green & white box, not the current biscuit tin with large label saying "First Aid Kit" on it, and having an emergency contact name and number on the notice board. Also attend to some leaning gravestones and other general maintenance work on a building dating from the 13th - 16th century.

Why don't we have Bishops like ....

... the one in tonight's Dr. Who episode. Fully clothed in combat gear, (2nd from left in picture), in charge of armed clergy, and with the best quote of the series so far ....

"Verger! How are we doing with those explosives?"

As the Dr says, some 12,000 years in the future "the Church has progressed."

(Photo from the BBC Dr Who pages)

Daffodil Spring

It's the time of year when our churchyards look sublime ....

Stepping out

A work in progress ....


... and completed.


Now you can step out of the new doors without breaking your neck!

I'm glad I called in someone with bricklaying skills.

Roll on the Summer barbecue!

Taking steps

Spring is sprung, and the sun is shining. Must be time to start building the step from the new doors out onto the patio.

The bricks came from the demolished wall. Paving slabs and ready-mix cement are bought. Now it's just a question of construction, for which I have summoned assistance from the south coast!

Easter Day

Easter Day was, well, different. At the 9.45 a.m. Eucharist in Ilketshall St Margaret there was a congregation of about 35 adults and 5 children. A good turn-out and the service was enjoyable, with an Easter Egg hunt for those young in years and young in spirit in the churchyard afterwards. I left them enjoying coffee and chat and headed off to St Peter South Elmham for the 11.15 a.m. BCP Holy Communion.

I wasn't expecting a great attendance here, and as the church has been out of use for about 8 months due to building works, I had pushed to get us back in there for this morning. The glaziers managed to re-install the East window last Tuesday, and the builders put the choir pews back and cleaned the chancel area on Holy Wednesday. The nave was still a building site and so there was a plastic screen across the rood screen to cut off that pert of the church. However, there was seating for about 14 people, so I thought that would be adequate.


The small chancel of St Peter's

But they kept coming! Before we started we were already full, people squeezed into the stalls and the clergy kneeling stools being used to sit on. Then, just before the Gospel reading, another two adults and four children arrived. Eventually we numbered about 24 adults and 7 children, and they were everywhere, some sitting on the the altar step, and 1 adult and 3 children standing inside the altar rail in the sanctuary. One person commented afterwards that the "Dunkirk Spirit" had prevailed - we just carried on and coped.

Communion itself was not as orderly as usual, but everyone got to the rail, eventually. Just as well that I took some extra communion wafers as the the single slice of bread provided would not have been enough.

The evening "Stations of the Resurrection" was small by comparison, just 8 of us walking the "Via Lucis". I shall have to consider whether I put this service onto the rota again next year, though I have had appreciative comments from some who were there.

Phew!

Easter Ceremonies

A small congregation gathered for the Easter Vigil and Ceremonies at Rumburgh. Readings, psalm and hymns, with Lighting of the New Fire, the Paschal Candle and renewal of baptismal vows. Now we know why the bowl of the church font has not been used in recent times. Lots of lovely water in it, and lots of lovely water flooding out of its base and across the floor!

Just as well that we had the reading about Noah's Fludde!

Late on Easter Eve

... and they said nothing to anybody, for they were afraid.

Good Friday 2010

Stations of the Cross (12 of them - and no Holy Hankie of Saint Veronica either!), at Homersfield this year, at 10.00 a.m. Fifteen people, which compares favourably with last year, and is an increase over the years before. A service of scripture readings, responsorial psalms and scriptures, and hymnody. I followed my usual layout of the Stations posters - starting with Pilate attached to the pulpit with the "Roman Eagle" of the lectern below, the procession to Golgotha around the nave, crucifixion at the altar, the "Dies on the Cross" poster taking the place of the altar cross, and the "Laying in the tomb" one affixed to the priest's door, the door acting as an entrance stone.

Open House/At Home for Hot X buns at 4.00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday 2010

A dark, cold and wet night for the Eucharist at 8.00 p.m. at St James South Elmham. A small congregation, some of whom stayed for the first 10-15 minutes of the "Watch" that lasted from the end of the service until 10.00 p.m. A minor triumph with this year's music - a CD of Abinoni's Adagios, which I put on as the Vigil began, and the disc ended exactly at 10.00 p.m. There was one other person besides myself at the close. But then I invite people to stay for as little or as much of the Vigil as they want, so I can't complain over their choice.

It now feels as if the Easter cycle is really beginning. Stations of the Cross tomorrow, and Hot X buns for those who want them later in the afternoon. The story has been set in motion. All we can do now is follow.

The image shows one of the many hand-carved panels that line the walls of the chancel in St. James.